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| Monday, January 19, 2009 |
| Organic on a Dime |
Much to my husband’s dismay, I buy a lot of organic food. He hates it because he thinks it’s costing us a fortune. I admit that it usually does cost more than conventional food, but having two young children I think it is worth it. Recently, I finally got tired of him complaining and decided to figure out how I can go organic on a dime. I came up with some good strategies that I wanted to share with you.
First let me say that organic foods usually are better for you. An analysis of 97 studies showed that average levels of nearly a dozen nutrients are 25% higher in organic produce. Eating organic may also help control your weight and strengthen your immune system. Most importantly, you will be eating fewer toxins. All this sounds great doesn’t it? If it didn’t cost so much, I’m sure you would all be on board. Well here are my strategies for going organic on a dime.
- Don’t always buy your organic foods from a conventional grocery store. They usually have only a small organic section and the prices are usually higher than a specialty store.
- Do some research. You may have organic markets or stores in your area that you don’t even know about.
- Buy your produce in season. It is usually much more affordable at that time and will be close to the conventional price.
- Avoid fancy packaging. Don’t buy pre-cut or pre-portioned fruits and veggies. Just buy them right from the produce section and you will save money..
- Buy organic dairy whenever possible. It contains no antibiotics or hormones and there are no pesticides in the cow’s feed. This is very important for your health and especially for your children’s health. The best way to save money on organic dairy is to clip coupons or to download coupons right from the company’s website. Try www.stonyfield.com or www.organicvalley.coop for printable coupons.
- Don’t be afraid to freeze foods. When organic meat and poultry are on sale, buy it and freeze it.
- Buy in bulk. When buying rice, pasta, dried fruits and nuts, buy in bulk and it will cost much less. These items can be kept for long periods of time if stored correctly.
- Be flexible. If you go in for carrots and potatoes are on sale go for the potatoes this week. Don’t buy items that you won’t eat but if you see a great substitute on sale; don’t be afraid to buy it.
- Skip some foods. When you are splurging on a sugary snack or a soda don’t bother going organic.
- Most importantly, if there are fruits and vegetables that you eat all the time (every day) make sure they are organic. The most important produce to buy organic according to the Environmental Working Group include: apples, cherries, grapes (imported), nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes, and spinach. These are considered the “dirty dozen”. Visit foodnews.org for a complete list of produce to buy organic. Their conventional counterparts contain very high levels of pesticides and toxins.
- If all else fails, do the best you can. If you feel you are still spending too much money on organic food, just try to buy the foods that you eat most often. If you eat an apple a day try to make sure it is organic. If you eat one cup of spinach a month don’t worry about it too much. The same goes for baby food. If your baby eats the same jarred foods over and over try to get those organic.
It does still cost me a little more than if I bought everything conventional, but I can tell the difference in the taste and I feel good knowing that my family is eating healthy. As the popularity of organic food continues to increase, hopefully the price will decrease. Until then, I hope my tips can help you go organic on a dime.
-Jennifer
Related Links: Sensei Talks: Safe ProduceLabels: Diet, grocery shopping, Jennifer
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posted by The Sensei Team @ Monday, January 19, 2009   |
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